Inventory of the Kuromi Photo Album Collection SPC.2017.012
Louanne Heintz
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2017-09-25
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Kuromi Photo Album Collection
Creator:
Kuromi, Hitoshi
Creator:
Kuromi, Corrine Nobuko Nishimura
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2017.012
Physical Description:
2 boxes
(2 photograph albums, one box of material)
Physical Description:
1.3 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): circa 1940-1960; 1970-1972
Abstract: This collection contains two photograph albums and material related to Hitoshi "Yoke" Kuromi and Corrine Nobuko Nishimura
Kuromi. Subjects in the collection include the Kuromi family, the Gila River incarceration camp, and hot rods. All of this
collection is digitized and some of the material is available online.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
Scope and Contents
The Kuromi Photo Album (circa 1940-1960; 1970-1972) contains two photograph albums and material related to Hitoshi "Yoke"
Kuromi and Corrine Nobuko Nishimura Kuromi. The first photograph album is mainly photographs of Corrine Kuromi and includes
images of her family, the Gila River incarceration camp, her classmates' graduation portraits, her wedding pictures, and other
images. The second photograph album contains images of family vacations to the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. It also contains
photographs from a car show event or gathering. The rest of the material in the collection relates to Yoko Kuromi's service
in 1970 and the memorial fund set up in his name.
Biographical / Historical
Hitoshi "Yoke" Kuromi was born April 24, 1925, and lived in Southern California where his parents owned a floral company.
Yoke and his family moved to the Gila River incarceration camp as a result of Executive Order 9066 during World War II. They
arrived at the camp on October 18, 1942, and were released July 20, 1944. After being released, Yoke served in the United
States Army during 1950-1952, and he was stationed in Alaska.
Corrine Nobuko Nishimura was born on July 3, 1929. Her family also moved to the Gila River incarceration camp on July 20,
1942, and they were released September 6, 1945. Corrine and Yoke married June 7, 1953, and had four children together, Lynn,
Kevin, Janet, and Carolyn. Yoke died January 1970, and Corrine died January 1994.
Related Materials
Processing Information for Digitized Materials
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections created digital reproductions from the original material for long-term preservation
and access. These preservation files (22.7 mb, 197 tif files) were scanned to and stored on the Gerth Archives and Special
Collections Deparment Drive. For more information on the best practices and standards for the digitization process, please
see:
CSUJAD Techincal Reference Guide.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Automobiles, Racing
Florists
Hot rods
Gila River Relocation Center
Japanese American soldiers
Japanese Americans -- Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1945
Nishimura, Arthur
Nishimura, Yemiko
Iwasaki, Taye
Mayeda, Fumiyo
Mizufune, Midori
Mizufune, Suniko
Toma, Kimiya
Wakayame, June
Seiji, Fujiye Frances
box 1, item 1
Corrine and Hitoshi "Yoke" Kuromi photograph album
circa 1940-1960
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This photograph album contains about 370 photographs, mostly of Corrine and her family and friends. In the album are images
of the Gila River incarceration camp in Arizona, her brother's (Arthur) Army, Yoke and Corrine's wedding pictures, pictures
of their young children, and a trip to Catalina Island. Also included are newspaper clippings regarding the Nisei Week Festival
with a newspaper article and photograph of the Royal Court for Miss Nisei of 1952.
box 1, item 2
Family vacation and hot rod photograph album
circa 1940-1960
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This photograph album contains over 200 pictures of family vacations and car show events. There are about 90 photographs of
hot rods and classic cars, possibly from a car show event or gathering. Some of the hot rods and classic cars photographed
might be a [1940] Ford Mercury, a 1928 Ford Model A Pickup, and other models of modified Ford cars from the 1920s and 1930s.
The other images in the album are family vacation photographs to Las Vegas, the Hoover Dam, and other unidentified locations.
box 2, folder 1
Newspaper clippings related to Yoke Kuromi's Memorial Fund and service
January 26, 1970 - February 8, 1972; undated
Language of Material: English and Japanese
box 2, folder 2
Funeral service program for Hitoshi "Yoke" Kuromi
January 27, 1970
Language of Material: English and Japanese
box 2, folder 3
Letter to Southern Teleflora Unit from John Lancaster, AIFD Unit President
January 29, 1970
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 4
Letter to Janet Kuromi and family from Ronald James Wong
February 4, 1970
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 5
Yoke Kuromi Memorial Fund Meeting dinner letters, meeting committee list of members, meeting minutes, program, tickets, receipt,
and photograph of Corrine Kuromi
May 20, 1970-June 10, 1970; circa 1970
Language of Material: English.
